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Tracheostomy is a frequent procedure performed on critically ill patients. 1 Among reported benefits, it decreases the number of mechanical ventilation (MV) days, 2 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) length of stay, 2 cumulative sedative dose, 3 reduces work of breathing, and improves quality of life. 4 Despite these benefits, tracheostomy is not a risk-free procedure, as complications can occur in up to 6% of patients. 5 They can be divided into intraprocedural, early, or late complications. 6,7 While the majority are minor in nature, some complications may determine significant morbidity, or even be potentially fatal. 4 In this sense, critical care teams must maximize efforts to reduce procedural related risks.
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